A simplified, personalized interface to deliver the authors content in a branded context?
With the textual portion of the content residing on the Hive Blockchain, (along with metadata).
Would the interface allow for commenting or upvoting?
An interface is a window to data on the Hive Block, it seems like it would not be overly complex, to build useable filters for customized portals like this. Am I oversimplifying the complexity of the code required?
You are not Ed! This is low hanging fruit and what you are talking about, like whether to display or allow comments, or votes, can be config'd by the user on site set up. There is a lot to do still, as they say, but honestly 50% is making it not so ugly.